Gaseous fuel burner

ABSTRACT

A gaseous fuel burner configuration is small in size but produces a relatively constant air-fuel mixture under wide fuel pressure variations. A fuel receiving housing forms a fuel chamber with an external frustro-conical surface having a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart fuel discharge bores therethrough. A cap is mounted on the housing and projects radially and downwardly over the fuel discharge bores, the cap being spaced from the discharge bores and having mixture bores of considerably greater diameter and axially aligned with the respective fuel discharge bores.

United States Patent [191 Adams 1 Nov. 4, 1975 [76] Inventor:

i[22] Filed:

[ GASEOUS FUEL BURNER Vernon Adams, 2213 W. 48th St.

Terrace, Shawnee Mission, Kans. 66205 Oct. 7, 1974 21 Appl. No.: 512,739

[52] US. Cl. 431/354; 431/264; 239/419.5; 239/548; 239/567 [51] Int. Cl. F23D 13/40 [58] Field of Search 431/258, 264, 354; 239/419.5, 548, 567

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,227,189 5/1917 Ostrander 239/567 2,738,837 3/1956 McGillis et al. 431/264 2,933,259 4/1960 Raskin 239/567 3,200,875 8/1965 Cramer.. 431/264 3,735,930 5/1973 Mori 239/4l9.5

Primary Examiner-Carroll B. Dority, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or FirmFishburn, Gold & Litman [57] ABSTRACT A gaseous fuel burner configuration is small in size but produces a relatively constant air-fuel mixture under wide fuel pressure variations. A fuel receiving housing forms a fuel chamber with an external frustro-conical surface having a plurality of circumferentially spacedapart fuel discharge bores therethrough. A cap is mounted on the housing and projects radially and downwardly over the fuel discharge bores, the cap being spaced from the discharge bores and having mixture bores of considerably greater diameter and axially aligned with the respective fuel discharge bores.

6 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Nov. 4, 1975 3,917,443

known andreasonably efficient in mixture production over narrow changes fuel pressure. However, hereto- :fore, burners, particularly of small size,'have'not been availableto, accurately maintain the desired fuel-air ratio under widely varying pressure changesyfor example, between ,.l- ,7-psig utiliz ir ig butane as fuel. Such wide-range, small size burners are necessary for the efficient use bf fuel in'many devices requiring high heat inputs in 'a small space, such as iii portable'stcam cleaners and the like. I i V This invention is directed to a burner configuration adapted to meet the requirements above noted and has for its principal objects to provide: a small size burner adapted to produce a relatively constant air-fuel mixture under widely varying fuel pressures; to provide such a fuel-air mixer which is relatively simple in configuration and easily manufactured; to provide such a fuel burner which is safe in operation and easily maintained; and to provide such a burner configuration from which the fuel mixture is easily ignited and which is well adapted for its intented purpose.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention.

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a burner embodying this invention, taken on the line 11, FIG. 2 and shown in combination with a spark-plug ignitor.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the burner, absent the spark-plug ignitor, and with a portion broken away to reveal details of construction.

Referring to the drawings in more detail:

The reference numeral 1 generally indicates a gaseous fuel burner of relatively small size for its capacity and adapted to produce a relatively constant air-fuel mixture under wide fuel pressure variations. The burner l is suitable for fuels, such as butane, delivered under a pressure range of l to 7 psig and comprises a fuel receiving housing 2 having a cylindrical side wall 3 of approximately 1 inch inside diameter and a closed dome 4 forming a fuel chamber 5. The side wall 3 is internally threaded at 6 for receiving an externally threaded fuel pipe 7 upon which it may be mounted.

The dome 4 is constructed of an upwardly and inwardly tapering ring section 8 and a central mounting boss 9 joined together as best illustrated in FIG. 1. The ring section 8 has an external frusto-conical surface 10 extending, in this example, approximately 52 to the horizontal as indicated by the angular representation 11. A plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart fuel discharge bores 12 are, in this example, approximately 0.030 inches in diameter and extend normally through the ring section 8, communicating from the exterior surface 10 into the fuel chamber 5.

A crown or cap 13 rests upon an upper flat surface 14 of the mounting boss 9 and is secured thereto by means of a suitable bolt 15 extending through the cap 13 and threadedly received coaxially into the mounting boss 9.

An aligning pin 16 extends through the cap 13 and into the mounting boss 9 to insurea predetermined rotational position with respect to the ring section 8. The cap projects radially and downwardly over the ring surface 10 and has a lower frusto-conical -surface 17 extending in parallel relation to the surface 10 and spacedtherefrom approximately 5/16 inch. The ring surface 10 and cap lower surface 17 define a circular mixing area 18 therebetween and an uninterrupted, circular, open mouth. 19 communicating into said mixing area. A bore 20, approximately 3/ 16 inch in diameter, extends through the cap 13 in axial alignment with each of the discharge bores 12 and is located on an axial circle spaced inwardly approximately /1 inch from the .cap edge. The pin 16, noted above, serves to prevent rotation of the cap 13 which would destroy the axial bore alignment. 1 w

A suitable spark the cap 13, as by welding, and functions to ignite, by remote control, the fuel-air mixture discharged from the bores 20. Preferably, a spark is continually produced across the plug contracts 23 during burning operation, thereby avoiding the possibility of the flame, being extinguished, which could result in dangerous quantities of explosive fuel-air mixture collecting in the burner chamber (not shown).

In operation, fuel is received in the chamber 5 under desired pressure, depending upon the momentary heat input required by the apparatus served. The fuel flows from the chamber 5 outwardly through the discharge bores 12 and into the mixing area 18 where air entering the mouth 19 becomes mixed therewith. The mixture is then discharged through the cap openings 20, normally burning just beyond the cap, the flow path being indicated by the arrow 24, FIG. 2.

With the configuration illustrated and described, it I has been found that variation in fuel pressure within a wide range, as noted above, in. an environment of approximately one atmosphere, will produce a constant fuel-air mixture for the most efficient use of fuel.

It is to be understood that while one form of this invention has been illustrated and described, it is not to be limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are 7 included in the following claims. What I desire to claim and secure by Letters is" cluding an upwardly and inwardly tapering ring 7 section formed about an axis and a central r'nounting boss, said ring section having an external fru'stoj conical ring surface,

b. a plurality of circumferentially spacedapart fuel discharge bores extending through said ring section and communicating with said fuel chamber,

c. a cap mounted on said boss and projecting radially and downwardly over said ring surface, said cap having a lower surface extending in generally parallel relation to said ring surface and being spaced therefrom, said ring surface and cap lower surface defining a circular mixing area therebetween and a mouth immediately open to ambient and communicating into said mixing area, and

d. a bore in said cap for each of said fuel discharge bores and aligned axially therewith, said cap bores plug ignitor 2ljis mounted, this example, upon a bracket 22 secured to the periphery of Patent I 1. A butane gaseous fuel burner adapted to produce being approximately ten times the diameter of said discharge bores and said spacing between said cap lower surface and said ring surface being approximately twice the diameter of said cap bores, said cap bores extending through said cap at an angle to said ring section axis of greater than approximately 120,

e. said cap bores being positioned with respect to said side wall whereby air moving upwardly along said side wall turns less than 90 for discharge through said cap bores, and

f. whereby fuel directed through said discharge bores travels upwardly and outwardly across said mixing area and out said cap bores.

2. The burner as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

a. the spacing between said cap lower surface and said ring surface is approximately 5/ 16 inch.

3. The burner as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

a. said fuel receiving housing wall is cylindrical in shape.

4. The burner as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

a. said frusto-conical ring surface extends approximately 52 to the horizontal.

5. The burner as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

a. said fuel discharge bores are approximately 0.030

inch in diameter and said cap bores are approximately 3/16 inch in diameter.

6. The burner as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

a. the spacing between said cap lower surface and said ring surface is approximately 5/ 16 inch, and

b. the cap bores are located on an axial circle spaced inwardly approximately A inch from the cap edge. 

1. A butane gaseous fuel burner adapted to produce a relatively constant air-fuel mixture under wide fuel pressure variations comprising: a. a fuel receiving housing having a side wall and a closed dome forming a fuel chamber, said dome including an upwardly and inwardly tapering ring section formed about an axis and a central mounting boss, said ring section having an external frusto-conical ring surface, b. a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart fuel discharge bores extending through said ring section and communicating with said fuel chamber, c. a cap mounted on said boss and projecting radially and downwardly over said ring surface, said cap having a lower surface extending in generally parallel relation to said ring surface and being spaced therefrom, said ring surface and cap lower surface defining a circular mixing area therebetween and a mouth immediately open to ambient and communicating into said mixing area, and d. a bore in said cap for each of said fuel discharge bores and aligned axially therewith, said cap bores being approximately ten times the diameter of said discharge bores and said spacing between said cap lower surface and said ring surface being approximately twice the diameter of said cap bores, said cap bores extending through said cap at an angle to said ring section axis of greater than approximately 120* , e. said cap bores being positioned with respect to said side wall whereby air moving upwardly along said side wall turns less than 90* for discharge through said cap bores, and f. whereby fuel directed through said discharge bores travels upwardly and outwardly across said mixing area and out said cap bores.
 2. The burner as set forth in claim 1 wherein: a. the spacing between said cap lower surface and said ring surface is approximately 5/16 inch.
 3. The burner as set forth in claim 1 wherein: a. said fuel receiving housing wall is cylindrical in shape.
 4. The burner as set forth in claim 1 wherein: a. said frusto-conical ring surface extends approximately 52* to the horizontal.
 5. The burner as set forth in claim 1 wherein: a. said fuel discharge bores are approximately 0.030 inch in diameter and said cap bores are approximately 3/16 inch in diameter.
 6. The burner as set forth in claim 1 wherein: a. the spacing between said cap lower surface and said ring surface is approximately 5/16 inch, and b. the cap bores are located on an axial circle spaced inwardly approximately 1/4 inch from the cap edge. 